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Home > Finding
a Quality Paint > Choosing
the Right Product Type > Sheen
Levels
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Traditionally, sheen finishes came in two broad categories –
matt for walls and gloss or semi-gloss for woodwork. Today sheen or
gloss levels come in many forms for almost all products. Each sheen
level has different characteristics depending on whether the product
absorbs or reflects light. Before choosing a sheen decide on which
one is best for the area you want to paint and how much wear and tear
it may be exposed to:
Matt – This flat, non-reflective
finish is a good choice for disguising flaws in a surface which may
not be completely flat. For this reason it is used on large surface
areas such as walls and ceilings. Matt paints are more prone to scuff
marks and are likely to mark, however some matt emulsions are available
today which are wipeable.
Silk or satin – Commonly
they refer to the same type of product category with similar sheen
levels and areas of use. These have an intermediate sheen level which
makes them more wipeable than ordinary matt paints, heardwearing and
scuff resistant – making them ideal for use in kitchens, bathrooms
and areas of high traffic (like hallways, children’s rooms).
This finish can also be referred to as "eggshell".
Satinwood or semi-gloss – This finish has a sheen level
midway between eggshell and gloss. It is commonly used on woodwork
(eg Skirting, doors, window frames etc)
Gloss –
This sheen reflects light making the surface appearance very shiny
and smooth. It has the advantage of not attracting too much dirt however
the glossy surface would accentuate imperfections on a surface –
this means a gloss finish would rarely be used to cover entire walls.
It is used on woodwork around the home.
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